Sydney's Observatory Hotel Observes Earth Hour

We've already figured out that the Observatory Hotel in Sydney well deserves its spot on Travel+Leisure's list as the best hotel in Australia. So we just wanted to give you one more reason to try it out. This time, it's because they've combined an environmentally respectful event with a great meal in their Galileo Restaurant.

The deal all takes place on March 29, 2008, when Earth Hour strikes. Earth Hour is a green movement started in Sydney last year, when private individuals and businesses agree to turn off their lights and other appliances for one hour. This year it's between 8pm and 9pm in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, plus a bunch of other cities including Chicago, Toronto and Copehnhagen.

At the Observatory Hotel, as well as encouraging guests to turn off the lights and air conditioners in their rooms, the restaurant will have no lights too. Instead, they're offering a special candle-lit dinner, with the seven-course `Dine in the Dark' degustation menu with matching wines, for A$155 (US$140).

No menu selections required, it's all been chosen for you by their chef and sommelier, so a lack of light won't matter too much. Presumably they'll still be using electricity in the kitchen, or your meal would come out a bit cold.